Michael Gardner

I am flexible in terms of the hours I can offer. At this moment I am only offering counselling via online video call or telephone call but will be offering face to face sessions in the very near future. Please make contact if you wish to be advised of the waiting time for face to face sessions.

Hi, and thank you for taking the time to read my profile!

There are countless reasons why you might be considering therapy right now, and you may or may not have a clear idea of what you're looking for. In the next couple of paragraphs, I’ll share a bit about my experience and what therapy could look like if we were to work together. If it resonates with you, and you feel like it could be a good fit, I’d be happy to hear from you and have that opening conversation.

My specialist area is trauma, particularly working with and supporting individuals who have experienced sexual abuse or assault. I don’t believe anyone should have to feel defined by their trauma. Every person is different, but some of the things my work can involve include developing a deeper understanding of the effects trauma can have on us in the present, exploring the things we did or didn’t do when the trauma occurred, and offering ideas about what can help us heal and feel more in control of our lives now. I also work with clients navigating a variety of issues, including anxiety, depression, and relationship difficulties. You don’t need to feel like you fit into any of these terms or boxes, though. Whatever is on your mind at the moment is important, and I’d be happy to explore it with you.

My approach is client-centred. What that means is that I don’t determine what we talk about or set the agenda. As much as possible, you’re in charge. In my role, the very least you should expect is to feel truly listened to. I understand that sometimes people find it hard to talk about certain things, so I can definitely ask questions if you feel that’s helpful. As we go along, based on what you’ve shared, I might make suggestions about things we could explore further, but they’re only ever suggestions. We’re never here to talk about anything you don’t feel ready for or don’t want to. There won’t be any judgment; you can share anything you want.

I also work in an integrative way, which means I can incorporate elements of different therapy approaches if I feel they may be helpful or useful for you. I would never pretend to have all the answers, but I have a lot of experience and ideas about things that may be helpful. I’ll never force an idea or suggestion on you. I’ll run it by you, check in with how you feel about it, and we can go from there.

Beyond my professional experience and approach, I think it’s useful to know a bit about my personality as well. I’m aware that therapy can be a place where really serious things are discussed, but I don’t believe that means our relationship has to be serious all the time. You’ll find me to be warm and friendly, and I keep things fairly relaxed. I’m a firm believer that it’s possible—and actually helpful—to have that kind of relationship while also talking about serious and possibly painful things together.

I understand that choosing a therapist can be an uncertain process, especially with so many options available. I offer a free 30-minute video or telephone appointment, which gives you the chance to briefly talk about what brings you to therapy at this time, as well as see how it feels for you to talk with me. After that, there’s zero obligation, but if it feels like a good match, we can discuss next steps and potentially arrange future sessions.

Therapy can be a big step or just the little extra help you need to cope with life. Whatever you're looking for right now, I’ll do my utmost to support you!